Knowledge Mapping of liver metastases from colonrectal cazncer: A bibliometric analysis (2018–2024) and reflections

Background liver metastases from colonrectal cazncer is a significant source of secondary liver malignancies. Considerable progress has been made in its diagnosis and treatment over the years. However, no recent bibliometric analysis has been identified on this topic. The present study aims to comprehensively elucidate the knowledge structure and research status related to liver metastasis in colorectal cancer using bibliometric methods. Methods Utilizing the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database, a systematic literature search was performed for publications concerning liver metastasis in colorectal cancer from 2018 to 2024. Analyses were carried out using VOSviewer, CiteSpace software, and the R package "bibliometrix" to facilitate the relevant assessments. Results The analysis encompassed 6,340 articles distributed across 538 countries/regions. Findings revealed a consistent annual increase in the volume of publications addressing liver metastasis in colorectal cancer. Among the top research institutions were Sun Yat-sen University and Fudan University. The journal " Cancers " and " Annals of Surgery " emerged as the most prominent publication outlet in this domain, also being the most frequently co-cited journal. The body of research was produced by 37,041 authors, with JN Vauther, C Verhoef, and Y Wang identified as the top three influential authors in the context of liver metastasis in colorectal cancer. Moreover, Fong Y, Jemal A, and Van Cutsem E were recognized for having the highest citation counts. A timeline visualization of keywords by frequency indicated that "chemotherapy" stands out as the most critical topic within this research area. Additional emerging trends included "tumor metastasis", "pharmacokinetics", and "metastatic rectal cancer". Conclusion This investigation represents the inaugural comprehensive bibliometric analysis summarizing the research trajectories and advancements in liver metastasis associated with colorectal cancer. The insights derived from this study delineate the current research frontiers and trending topics, thereby serving as a valuable resource for future investigations within the realm of liver metastasis in colorectal cancer, although limiting the analysis to studies indexed in WoSCC may introduce bias into the results